LABOUR MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH EC MONITORING MISSION CHIEF

ZAGREB, Sept 8 (Hina) - Croatian Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic on Friday held talks with the chief of the European Community Monitoring Mission to Croatia, Hans Ewe, about the situation in the country and measures of social policy the new Government was undertaking. Vidovic informed Ewe with some measures of the social policy, such as the introduction of child's allowance for all categories of citizens, including the unemployed and farmers, and an increase in pensions, the Ministry said in a statement. Vidovic announced the Government would, besides great allocations for social transfers, work on the employment policy. According to the Minister, Croatia at present has 1,320,000 people registered as employed, 1,018,000 retirees, and about 350,000 unemployed, which he described as a practically unbearable social situation. Vidovic also informed Ewe with the details of the "Partnership for Development" social pact which was recently presented among members of the Government, the Croatian Employers' Association and unions, proposing a new model of Croatia's development within the next three years. He expressed hope the agreement would be signed and a final social pact begin to be drafted by September 25. Ewe was especially interested in the issue of pensioners and the return of debt to pensioners. Vidovic informed him about the actions the Ministry and Government were undertaking with regards to the issue. The two also spoke about a recommendation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the Government pertaining to the freezing of salaries. Vidovic expressed optimism regarding the signing of a new stand-by arrangement with the IMF, the statement read. (hina) lml